Stacking apparatus



Oct. 19, 1965 J. E. INGALLS STACKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 6, 1964 INVENTOR. James E. frzyaZls HTTORNEYT Oct. 19, 1965 J. E.INGALLS 3,212,774

STACKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1964 .5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

James E filf/JZZ-S United States Patent 3,212,774 STACKING APPARATUSJames E. Ingalls, R0. Box 244, Brooklyn, Conn. Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser.No. 335,926 7 Claims. ((31. 27168) This invention relates to a stackingapparatus and more particularly to a compact portable apparatusconnectable to an automatic machine producing articles having agenerally smooth side and at a high rate of speed.

For example, the development of pressure sensitive adhesive material hasfostered the manufacture in large quantities of labels having one sidetreated with this material. To facilitate the handling and the printingof these labels they are mounted in group on backing sheets. It isdifficult to pile or stack the backing carrying the labels on top ofeach other due to the irregular surface presented by the mounted labels,as the sheets come from the press. I have found that by sliding abacking sheet having labels mounted on the top side thereof underneath apreceding backing sheet, which of course has a relatively smoothsurface, that I can form a pile of these sheets without jamming and doso very fast.

Therefore, it is one object of my invention to provide a bottom stackingapparatus for handling such type of articles. Another object of myinvention is to be able to rapidly stack limp materials such aspolyethylene bags as they leave the automatic machine.

In connection with certain materials used today, I have found that forhigh speed stacking the leading edge of articles advancing to stackformation must constantly be supported and not be required to jump gapsor be picked up by other moving surfaces, hence another object of myinvention is to provide an advancing surface with which the leading edgeof the article to be stacked is always supported by being continuouslyin contact therewith.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a stacking apparatusto handle relatively thin articles which are not as flexible asheretofore mentioned, as for example, packages.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple apparatus whichcan be easily carried about and connected to the outgoing side ofautomatic machines such as a printing press or packaging machine.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my stacking ap paratus connected to anautomatic machine;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2 andsomewhat enlarged;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of another embodiment ofmy invention;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown inFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is similar to FIGURE 4 showing an article having advanced fromthe position shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view illustrating my invention;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment, and

FIGURE 9 illustrates one type of article to be stacked.

With reference to the drawings, the invention is generally designated bythe numeral 10. A frame 11 composed of side bars 12 held together bycross bars 13 supports the essential components of this device as willbe subsequently described in detail. Referring to FIG- 3,212,774Patented Oct. 19, 1965 URE 1 the device is illustrated as attached to anautomatic machine 14 as for example a printing press by any suitablemeans such as a bracket 15 and bolting members 16.

The numeral 18 designates the end for receiving articles 31 as theyleave the printing press 14 to be stacked at the opposite or stackingend 19. The article in this case comprises a backing sheet 41 'havingmounted thereon a gang of labels 40. A continuous conveyor belt 17 issupported at the receiving end 18 by a roller 20 journaled in oppositeside bars 12 and supported at the stacking end 19 by a roller 21 alsojournaled in the side bars 12. The upper reach A of the belt spanningthe distance between the rollers 20 and 21 is supported by anintermediate roller 22 also journaled in opposite side bars 12. Thefirst section, B of this reach A between roller 20 and intermediateroller 22 receives the articles 41 from the printing press 14 at a highrate of speed and advances them to the second section C of reach Abetween intermediate roller 22 and roller 21 at the stacking end whichsecond section C serves as a bottom for the stack pile 23. A crossbar 13extending between the two side bars may be mounted against the lowersurface of second section B to provide additional support for the stackpile if needed.

A back stop 29 is movably mounted on the side bars 12 and secured byclamping bolts 30 thereto to arrest the advance of articles reposing onthe second section C of the conveyor belt at a desired position as willbe subsequently explained.

Another continuous belt 24 is mounted above the first section B of thelower belt 17 between rollers 25 and 26 at the receiving and stackingends respectively so that the lower reach thereof engages articles 31reposing on the first section B of the lower belt 17, and also mayengage the surface of first section B if the upper and lower belts areadjusted for thin articles.

A single belt or a plurality of belts may be used depending on thenature of articles to be handled. As illustrated in the drawing I haveused three spaced lower belts and three spaced upper belts, each upperbelt is arranged to cooperate with a companion lower belt for a givendistance as will be subsequently described. In this description a singlelower belt and a companion single upper belt will be referred to but ifa plurality of companion belts are used they will be identical.

Roller 20 at the receiving end of lower belt 17 is driven by a suitablegear train 27 connected to a companion train 28 on the printing press14. However, if so desired, the roller 20 may be driven by an electricmotor or other independent source of power. In the preferred embodimentof this invention I drive the roller 25 and hence upper belt 24 by agear train 27 connected with the gear train 28 of the lower belt 17 sothat both belts 17 and 24 are moving at the same lineal rate of speedand to advance articles 31 to the left as viewed in the drawings.

As shown clearly in FIGURES 2 and 7 roller 26 at the delivery end ofupper belt 24 is mounted adjacent intermediate roller 22 with its lowersurface below the upper surface of intermediate roller 22 so that thelower reach of upper belt in engaging the first section B of lower beltreach A or an article 31 reposing on section B as they approachintermediate roller 22 deflects the portion adjacent the intermediateroller 22 to form an upwardly directed ramp or slope 33in section Bterminating at the top of intermediate roller 22.

An article 31 reposing on first section B is advanced up this ramp andenters the stack 23 underneath a pre ceding article 31 at the bottom ofthe stack 23 which has been arrested by back stop 29 when its trailingedge 32 is just short of intermediate roller 22.

As the leading edge 45 of article 31 is always reposing on thecontinuous surface of reach A from first being deposited thereon atreceiving end 18 to completion of its travel in the stack end 19 asmooth uninterrupted advance is always assured even at high speed.

In another embodiment shown clearly in FIGURE 8 delivery roller 26 mayin addition to being located in reference to intermediate roller 22 maybe located in reference to stack 23 by a distance D so that the trailingedge 32 of the lowermost article 31 in the stack pile is engaged byupper belt 24 as it passes over roller 26 and is thus continually urgingtrailing edge 32 away from slope 33 to insure that the leading edge 45of article 31 will enter stack pile 23 between the lowermost article 31and the second section C.

In another embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 I mount intermediateroller 122 in a pair of journal boxes 34 which can be adjusted inlongitudinal slots 36 as may be desired.

In still another embodiment as also shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 I mountdelivery roller 126 in a pair of journal boxes 35 which are verticallyadjustable in slots 37. In this latter embodiment I may mount thejournal boxes 147 so that they are free to move and rely on their weightto bias the upper belt 24 against the first section B of the lower beltor in the preferred form I may use resilient means as for examplehelical springs 51 to effect the desired bias force.

This construction provides for thick or nonflexible articles 131 to bestacked as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6.

In addition to providing a uniform bias force this construction providesa sort of relief valve for rigid or semi rigid articles as they areadvanced past the roller 126 as shown for example, in FIGURE 6.

The operation of the apparatus described up to this joint will now beexplained.

The articles 31 to be stacked, as for example a backing sheet containinga gang of labels mounted on the top side thereof, leave the automaticmachine, which in this case may be a printing press, with the smoothside of backing sheet toward the lower belt 17 and are fed on to the topsurface of the belt 17. As the articles 31 are advanced by the movingbelt 17 they enter the space between both of the belts 17 and 24 andsubsequently become engaged by the companion surfaces both belts 17 and24 as they advance toward the stack 23.

Assuming, for descriptive purposes, no articles 31 have advanced tostack position and the course of the first article 31 to be deposited onthe belt 17 from the printing press is now described. This first article31 is engaged by both belts 17 and 24 as it advances to the deliveryroll 26 whence it is carried by first section B of belt 17 upwardly onslope 33, as viewed in FIGURE 2, and at an angle to the plane of thesecond section C between rolls 21 and 22 and continues to advance untilit is arrested by the back stop 29 with the trailing edge of article 31stopping just short and to the right (as also viewed in FIGURE 2) ofroll 22.

The second or next following article 31 advances and continues up theramp or slope 33 of section B between rolls 26 and 32 and is directed bythe extended trailing edge 32 of the first article resting at the baseof the stack to advance beneath or between the first article 31 and thebelt section C at the base of the stack 23- and con- .tinues to advanceuntil arrested by back stop 29.

The diameter of the delivery roller 26 is preferably of small diameteras for example /2 inch in order that the upper belt 24 may be positionedvery close to the trailing edges 32 of articles 31 in the stack 23position to enable the upper belt 24 to apply its advancing influence aslong .as possible when so desired. 1

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction or use and the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for accumulating articles in stack formation, adriven conveyor first belt mounted between a first roller and a secondroller having a continuous upper reach therebetween supported by anintermediate roller; said reach having a first section between saidfirst roller and said intermediate roller for receiving an article to bestacked and advanced to a second section between said intermediateroller and said second roller forming a side of a stack formation; stopmeans located adjacent said side to engage an advancing article reposingon said second section to arrest its advance when its trailing edge isshort of said intermediate roller; a second belt mounted between a thirdroller and a fourth roller in proximity to said first section having aportion thereof moving along generally parallel with said first sectionto engage an article being advanced by said first section; said thirdroller so located relative to said intermediate roller that a portion ofsaid second belt adjacent thereto exerts a force against an articleengaged by said first section as its approaches said intermediate rollerto deflect a portion of said first section so that said approachingarticle is directed to enter said stack formation between said trailingedge and said second section and continue to be advanced there betweenuntil arrested by said back stop.

2. In an apparatus for stacking articles having a generally smooth sideas received from an automatic machine, a driven conveyor first beltmounted between a first pair of rollers having a generally horizontalcontinous upper span supported by an intermediate roller; said spanhaving a first section extending from one of said rollers to saidintermediate roller for receiving and advancing an article to be stackedand a second section extending from said intermediate roller to theother of said first pair of rollers forming a bottom side for supportinga stack formation; stop means adjacent said side to engage an advancingarticle reposing on said second section to arrest its advance when itstrailing edge is short of and overhangs said intermediate roller; asecond belt mounted between a second pair of rollers above and inproximity to said first section having a lower portion moving alonggenerally parallel with said first section to engage an article reposingon said first section; one of said second pair of rollers locatedadjacent and relative to said intermediate roller so that a portion ofsaid second belt adjacent thereto exerts a downward force on an articlereposing on said first section as it approaches said intermediate rollerto deflect a portion of said first section to form. a ramp approachingsaid bottom side whereby said approaching article reposing on said rampis directed to enter said stack formation and advance thereinunderneathsaid trailing edge until arrested by said back stop.

3. In the apparatus of claim 1, said second belt being driven at thesame lineal rate of speed as said first belt is driven.

4. In the apparatus of claim 3 said second belt so located relative tosaid stack formation that the trailing edge of at least the lowermostarticle in completed position in said stack formation is engaged by saidsecond belt as it passes over one of its supporting rollers to maintainsaid trailing edge in a sufficiently raised position to guide theleading edge of an article approaching said trailing edge into saidstack formation.

5. In the apparatus of claim 1 said third roller mounted in a pair ofjournal boxes movable transversely to the plane of said first sectionand biased to urge said third 'roller and second belt supported thereintoward said first section and against an article engaged by said firstsection as it approaches said intermediate roller.

6. In the apparatus of claim 1, said intermediate roller mounted in apair of journal bOXes movably adjustable parallel to the plane of saidsecond section.

7. In an apparatus for stacking articles received from a productionmachine, an elongated frame comprising a pair of spaced parallellongitudinal supporting members having means at one end of said frame toconnect with said machine, a first pair of transverse rollers mountedbetween said members adjacent ends thereof, one of which rollers isdriven; a conveyor belt connected between said rollers having its upperreach supported by an idle intermediate roller mounted between saidmembers; said intermediate roller dividing said reach into a firstsection for receiving and advancing articles to be stacked and into asecond section of said reach on which said articles are stacked; a backstop adjustably mounted on said frame adjacent said second section toengage an advancing article reposing on said second section and arrestits advance when its trailing edge is short of said intermediate roller;a second belt supported in generally parallel proximity above said firstsection on a second pair of rollers mounted between said members so thata portion of said second belt engages articles reposing on said firstsection; one of said second pair of rollers positioned adjacent andrelative to said intermediate roller such that said second belt inengaging an article on said first section exerts a downward force todeflect said first section in its immediate approach to saidintermediate roller forming a ramp to said second section so that anarticle reposing on said ramp is directed to enter and advance intostack formation under said trailing edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,769,378 11/56Jochem 271--68 XR 3,051,332 8/62 Richert et a1. 271--68 XR M. HENSONWOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING ARTICLES IN STACK FORMATION, ADRIVEN CONVEYOR FIRST BELT MOUNTED BETWEEN A FIRST ROLLER AND A SECONDROLLER HAVING A CONTINUOUS UPPER REACH THEREBETWEEN SUPPORTED BY ANINTERMEDIATE ROLLER; SAID REACH HAVING A FIRST SECTION BETWEEN SAIDFIRST ROLLER AND SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLLER FOR RECEIVING AN ARTICLE TO BESTACKED AND ADVANCED TO A SECOND SECTION BETWEEN SAID INTERMEDIATEROLLER AND SAID SECOND ROLLER FORMING A SIDE OF A STACK FORMATION; STOKMEANS LOCATED ADJACENT SAID SIDE ENGAGE AN ADVANCING ARTICLE REPOSING ONSAID SECOND SECTION TO ARREST ITS ADVANCE WHEN ITS TRAILING EDGE ISSHORT OF SIAD INTERMEDIATE ROLLER; A SECOND BELT MOUNTED BETWEEN A THIRDROLLER AND A FOURTH ROLLER IS PROXIMITY TO SAID FIRST SECTION HAVING APORTION THEREOF MOVING ALONG GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID FIRST SECTIONTO ENGAGE AN ARTICLE BEING ADVANCED BY SAID FIRST SECTION; SAID THRIDROLLER SO LOCATED RELATIVE TO SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLLER THAT A PORTION OFSAID SECOND BELT ADJACENT THERETO EXERTS A FORCE AGAINST AN ARTICLEENGAGED BY SAID FIRST SECTION AS ITS APPROACHES SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLLERTO DEFLECT A PORTION OF SAID FIRST SECTION SO THAT SAID APPROACHINGARTICLE IS DIRECTED TO ENTER SAID STACK FORMATION BETWEEN SAID TRAILINGEDGE AND SAID SECOND SECTION AND CONTINUE TO BE ADVANCED THRERE BETWEENUNTIL ARRESTED BY SAID BACK STOP.